Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Note- BDM Qld birth register records his surname as Browne, this appears to be a typographical error as all other records for his siblings and parents record the surname as Brown.

William Joseph Brown served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 160, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 856, 1st Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.

When he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private W. J. Brown, single, Shannon St, Gympie. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 16, it notes he directed part of his pay to Mrs. J. Brown, Shannon St, Gympie, and a line below that records the name Margaret Brown which was his mother. The paybooks note he was invalided from service returning aboard Harlech Castle to Brisbane where he was discharged on 21 Dec 1900.

He enlisted again in 1902 with the 1st BACH and on his Attestation paper, dated 6 Jan 1902, he noted that; he was born at Brisbane and was 21 years 1 month of age; he was single and a carpenter; His N.O.K. was his father J. Brown, Gympie; and he had previously served with the 1st Contingent.When his photo and details were published in The Queenslander, 1 Feb 1902, his N.O.K. was recorded as his father Isaac Brown, Channon St, Gympie, which again appears to be a typographical error with his father being John Brown.

it appears he served the full tour of the 1st BACH and returned to Brisbane where he was discharged on 19 Aug 1902. Shortly after he returned to South Africa to work in the Rand Mines at Krugersdorp where his carpentry skills found him work as a mine timberman. He was working in the mines when he passed as a result of an accident as reported in The Gympie Times, 14 Jan 1908.

Personal- The Gympie Times, 14 Jan 1908, p. 3.

A letter was received last week by Mrs. M. Brown, of Channon-street, conveying news of the death of her eldest son, William Joseph, who left Gympie with the 1st and 4th contingent during the South African War. Mr. Will Brown met an untimely end whilst working in one of the Rand mines. The young man was highly respected by all the officials at the various gold mines, and was honored with a splendid funeral. Mr. Brown was engaged to be married within a short time, and his untimely demise has been the cause of great sorrow to his friends both in South Africa and Gympie.

The online genealogy site FamilySearch.org contains a large number of South African death notices and probate files, including for William Joseph Brown. His death notice indicates that he died on 9 Dec 1907 while working as a mine timber man at the West Rand Mines, Krugersdorp. He was 27 years old at the time, single and born in Queensland, Australia, with his parents details unknown.

The probate file contains his will which notes part of his estate was to be distributed to his second brother James Thomas Brown of Channon St, Gympie, Queensland, Australia. The South African court requested a copy of the birth registration of his brother, which is on the probate file, and confirms the details of their parents.The burial record indicates he was buried on 10 Dec 1907 in the district of St Peters, Krugersdorp but does not specify the cemetery.

William Joseph Brown (Browne) was born on 6 Dec 1880 at Brisbane, Queensland, a son to John Brown and Margaret Brown (nee Conlon).

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451 and 523; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossiers 1st & 2nd services; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 16; "South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1961", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLQ7-2YFZ : Wed Mar 06 10:27:13 UTC 2024), Entry for William Joseph Browne, 1907.).